A great run down the left by Jamaican winger Rolando Aarons saw the youngster whip a cross towards the penalty spot. Riviere lept ahead of the challenging defender and guided his header past the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

It was a goal that the likes of Toon legends Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand would have been proud of, and gives a reason for plenty of optimism around St James's Park ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

Much of Newcastle's problems last season came from their inability to offer much in attack.

Pappis Cisse had an awful campaign, scoring just 4 times all season, while loan signing Luuk de Jong failed to find the net at all from January to the end of the season.

This attacking dearth has been addressed somewhat by Alan Pardew this summer, with Riviere arriving from Monaco, while young forwards Ayoze Perez and Facundo Ferreyra have also come in alongside attacking midfielders Siem de Jong and Remy Cabella.

And it is the former Monaco man who seems to have seized the responsibility of providing that much needed goal threat, with his superb header against Schalke his second goal in four games. The striker had earlier scored on his debut against Sydney FC.

Riviere has moved to the Premier League to get more regular football than he could have expected at the Stade Louis II this season, and he is already looking like he could be a snip at just £6 million.

A call up to the France national squad could be on its way if the 24-year-old carries such form into the Premier League season.

Either way, and regardless of what shirt number he wears, it looks like the Toon Army may have another top class target man at their club.

Is Riviere set to take the Premier League by storm this season?

Che Thomas

Che is an Englishman abroad unable to cut the apron strings tying him to the crazy world of English football. As a writer and freelance journalist, he has covered matches and cultural events from across the globe all with the intention to inform, entertain and provoke debate. Just as smitten with music, film, and photography, though fully aware of the fact that nothing takes the place of that Saturday afternoon excitement down at N17 (even when it's actually on a Sunday!)